“But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is
commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow
His steps.” Notice Peter’s main point in this passage: “For to
this, IE., suffering, you were called.” The Apostle Paul said it
this way: “No one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you
yourselves know that we are appointed to this.” The word
“afflictions” is translated from the Greek thlipsis and literally
means to crush, being also translated difficulties, trouble,
adversity, distress, hardship, anguish, suffering, tribulation, and
the like. The writer of Hebrews defines thlipsis as “a great
conflict of suffering”, and in scripture thlipse encompasses ill
health, poverty, the loss of loved ones, and all the perils,
hardships, and persecution that can accompany one’s profession in
Christ. And, suffering must be endured… patiently, if it is to be
commendable to God.
“For
it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than
for doing evil … Let those who suffer according to the will of God
commit their souls to Him in doing good.” It is better to suffer
unjustly for doing good than to suffer justly for doing wrong. Saints
are appointed to suffering, and Christ is our example. And yes… our
suffering as a saint can be the will of God.
“Therefore,
since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with
the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from
sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh
for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.”
Since
Christ suffered in the flesh for you and me, we should arm yourselves
with the same thought and purpose by patiently suffering rather than
fail to please God. And here is a golden nugget of revelation: For
whoever has suffered in the flesh, having the mind of Christ, is done
with intentional sin – has stopped pleasing himself and the world,
and pleases God. This means we no longer spend the rest of our
natural life living by our human appetites and desires… Self, but
we live for what God wills! Saints, suffering changes us, enabling us
to become Christlike and obedient to God’s will.
Hear
the words of the Apostle Paul from the Amplified Bible: “Moreover,
let us also be full of joy now! let us exult and triumph in our
troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and
affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And
endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (IE.,
Christlikeness), approved faith and tried integrity. And character of
this sort produces the habit of joyful and confident hope of eternal
salvation. Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for
God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy
Spirit Who has been given to us.” Suffering produces Godly
character, the nature of Christ within.
Peter
said suffering is experienced by the whole Christian brotherhood, and
that God would, “after you have suffered a while, perfect,
establish, strengthen, and settle you.” Suffering has a divine
purpose, our perfection, to establish us, strengthen us, and settle
us.
Hear
the words of James the brother of our Lord: “My brethren, count it
all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing
of your faith produces patience … that you may be perfect and
complete, lacking nothing.” The goal of suffering is our
perfection, Christlikeness, that we may be completely free of
spiritual imperfections, lacking nothing in the spiritual realm.
SUFFERING…
COUNT IT ALL JOY
(1
Peter 2:20-21, 3:17, 4:1-2, 19, 5:9-10; 1 Thess. 3:3; Heb. 10:32-33;
James 1:2-4; Rom. 5:3-5)
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